Definitions and criteria for characterizing patients with central sensitization and nociplastic pain in clinical trials: a scoping review.

Objective: to investigate and synthesize from a temporal perspective the definitions and diagnostic criteria used to characterize patients with central sensitization and nociplastic pain in clinical trials. Design: A scoping review conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews, and reported following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Search and eligibility: Searches will be conducted in MEDLINE, PsycInfo, PEDro, EMBASE, AMED, Cochrane Central, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, SportDiscus, and CINAHL, along with manual searches of reference lists. Randomized and non-randomized clinical trials involving individuals with chronic pain (≥3 months) in which central sensitization and/or nociplastic pain are defined will be included. Study selection: Titles, abstracts, and full texts will be independently screened by two reviewers based on predefined eligibility criteria. Data extraction and analysis: Data will be extracted on study characteristics, population features, and the definitions and criteria used to identify central sensitization and/or nociplastic pain. Results will be synthesized descriptively, highlighting patterns, inconsistencies, and gaps in current research practices.